The reciprocated relation between Ethiopia, South Africa

Months ago, the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) signed a peace deal in Pretoria. And, South Africa has been one of the mediators of the grand agreement. The AU brokered deal that had received acclamation from the international community did not only showcase Ethiopia’s courageous commitment to end conflicts peacefully but also signal the strong bond Addis Ababa and Pretoria enjoy for decades.

Over the years, the bilateral relations between Ethiopia and South Africa and their cooperation on the global stage have been growing. In fact, the ties date back to decades ago with Ethiopia backing South Africa’s anti-colonial movement. Moreover, both countries have also been working in the area of education with the University of South Africa offering education to Ethiopian students.

South Africa also has been a destination for Ethiopian migrants with many Ethiopians residing and working in the country. Apart from this, being home to a diverse population, the countries share many cultural values. In recent times, both countries have been displaying common positions regarding various international affairs. The government of both countries have firmly opposed external intervention and worked closely to set the tone for the African continent.

They have been calling on developed nations to increase climate finance and support Africa’s green initiative activities. History had recorded that South Africa’s former president and freedom champion Nelson Mandela was once trained in Ethiopia. It is to be recalled that Ethiopia has planned to build Mandela Museum in commemoration of Mandela and Ethiopia’s support of South Africa’s liberation movement.

The museum will be built in Addis Ababa where Mandela took military training in 1962 for three months during the era of Emperor Haile Selassie I. The Federal Police University, and Addis Ababa Culture, Art and Museum Bureau have signed a deal to build the museum within the police college compound found in Kolfe / Keraniyo Sub city where Mandela has taken military training.

It was indicated that the main objective of Mandela Museum is to remember and pass the history to the next generation about Ethiopia’s contribution to South Africa’s struggle to be free from apartheid, and to highlight Ethiopia’s role against other injustices including supporting the fights against colonialism in different African countries. It is also expected to serve as one of the tourist destinations in the capital Addis Ababa.

And, this week, the countries have agreed to further bolster the existing strategic bilateral relations and continental issues. On Monday, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) held a discussion with South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pando who stopped in Addis Ababa for an official state visit. The discussions centered on further enhancing diplomatic ties, augmenting economic and trade relations, collaboration on science and tech education as well as on common regional and global development issues, ENA reported.

Similarly, the 4th Ethiopia-South Africa Joint Ministerial Commission meeting was held on Monday in Addis Ababa co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen and Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Naledi Pandor. In a joint press briefing they gave at the conclusion of the meeting Demeke said both sides discussed issues of common interest in-depth, the media also reported.

“We have reviewed the diplomatic, security, economic, and social issues of the two countries. On the basis of the review, the implementation of cooperation agreements was found to be satisfactory. We need to make more efforts for the best outcomes,” he added. This is a clear manifestation of the two countries’ strong bilateral, regional, and continental as well as global cooperation, Demeke stated.

Naledi Pandor said on her part Ethiopia and South Africa are hard at work to strengthen the existing bilateral relations and are doing so in a world that has begun to alter in ways that as we analyze them, we believe, are increasingly a fundamental change to the way in which the world order has worked up to now.

“It is clear that countries of the south, particularly we in Africa, want to a greater voice in global international matters that we wish to see greater democratization of multilateral institutions,” she pointed out. But also, she added that as African countries we wish to work more closely together to advance the goals that we have set ourselves in the premier policy instruments of the African continent, particularly Agenda 2063.

“Minister Demeke, myself, and all our officials gathered here have agreed that we must do more to ensure the priorities of Agenda 2063. I realized one of the most important is the creation of greater trade within Africa, with African products among African countries,” she stated. This means full attention to industrialization on our continent, to developing our manufacturing capability, and to ensure that we put the wealth of Africa to good use by value addition in our own countries, rather than extraction and export, Pandor underscored.

She added that “we have agreed that the nature of our relationship while it is extremely positive and very friendly, we want to lift it to greater heights of refined collaboration, heights that would support our ambition that Africa should finally be developed, should have its people prosperous, eradicate poverty and Africa where young people feel that they have a place and Africa that is absent of conflict and that is fully focused on advancing development goals.”

The minister expressed her belief that through the work of the joint ministerial commission and the agreements that drive our cooperation, we can achieve this lofty ambition. “We have agreed that we must monitor our officials and the various sectorial departments to ensure that our speeches become a reality in practical outcomes,” she underscored.

BY STAFF REPORTER

THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 2 AUGUST 2023

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